Manish guard in shoot spree

Feb. 4: A 39-year-old Calcutta police constable posted at power minister Manish Guptas residence allegedly shot and injured his own mother and younger brother before turning his service revolver on himself at his Hooghly home this morning.

While constable Anup Roy died on the spot, his brother Bidesh, 32, a company secretary, suffered a bullet injury in his neck. A bullet grazed their mother Pratibhas left hand.

Neighbours who rushed to the Roys three-storey home in Janai, 30km from Calcutta, after hearing Pratibhas cries for help around 6.30am said the incident could be the fallout of a family feud.

Neighbour Avik Bhukta said: We opened the collapsible gate with a crowbar and Anups father (Sudhakar) opened the main door. We saw Anup lying on the floor. He had a bullet hole in his head. Bidesh was lying in a pool of blood on a bed and mashima (Pratibha) was also bleeding.

Ten days ago, Anup had a quarrel with his father after he refused to give him Rs 75,000 to repay a loan. But the problem was settled temporarily when his father gave him the money. A few days ago, both Anup and Bidesh sent their wives to their fathers homes.

Another neighbour said Anup demanded another Rs 50,000 last night but his father said he could arrange for only Rs 20,000. Anup stormed out after an argument with his father and brother, he said.

The officer in charge of the local Chanditala police station, Debnath Sadhukhan, said Anup had lodged a complaint against Bidesh last night, accusing the younger brother of threatening him.

Senior Lalbazar officers said Anup had deposited his service revolver at the Alipore armoury yesterday afternoon according to protocol before returning home. He collected it early today, an officer said.